Agenda item - Future Use of Knoll House Resource Centre

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Agenda item

Future Use of Knoll House Resource Centre

Report of the Executive Director of Health and Adult Social Care (copy attached)

Decision:

RESOLVED – That the Board agree:

 

(i) Option C: Supported Living Service for people with Physical Disabilities and Acquired Brain Injury is taken forward as the preferred option;

 

(ii) that a final decision about the model and whether to provide a Council run or outsourced service is made at the June Health and Wellbeing Board meeting once further detailed work has taken place to identify the viability and model for each option;

 

(iii) To consider Options A & B: Services for people with Mental Health needs within the Commissioning Strategy; and

 

(iv) To put in placed a Guardian Scheme at the property.

Minutes:

48.1    The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Adult Social Care and Health relating to the future use of Knoll House Resource Centre.

 

48.2    It had been agreed at the meeting of the Board held on 10 September 2019 that a business case and options appraisal would be produced for the use of Knoll House as: (a) high level supported step-down accommodation for adults with mental health needs; or (b) lower level supported accommodation for adults with a mental health condition to enable independent living (c) both of the above options would be considered within the business case and options appraisal. It was recognised that in Brighton and Hove too many people were placed in residential and nursing placements in comparison with comparable authorities and that in many cases this was due to a lack of suitable alternative accommodation/provision.

 

48.3    The outline business case was detailed in the report and had looked at the two groups requested by the Board but had also included a third group in relation to physical disabilities and acquired brain injury (ABI). Following consideration of all three options it was recommended that Option C be pursued for the reasons set out in the report, but that a final decision about whether to provide a Council run or outsourced service be made at the scheduled June meeting of the Board following

 

48.4    The Chair welcomed the report noting that the report to be brought forward to the June meeting of the Board would include detailed costings in respect of each option. The Chair was also pleased to note that it was intended that a Guardianship scheme would be put in place at the property.

 

48.5    Councillor Shanks stated that she was satisfied that this further report provided a well weighted consideration of all the options, noting that residents’ concerns had been addressed and a meeting held with the residents’ association. It was confirmed that the meeting had been valuable as it had been possible to give reassurance regarding the available options and that being pursued which was preferred for the reasons set out in the report.

 

48.6    Councillor Bagaeen sought clarification of the running/staffing costs in respect of Option B.

 

48.7    Councillor Appich referred to the fact that there were currently 5 Court of Protection cases for this cohort where the Court had specifically asked the Council what alternatives were being commissioned locally to enable moves asking whether/what interim arrangements would be made to ensure that these individuals needs and vulnerabilities were protected.

 

48.8    It was explained that cases were referred to the Court of Protection where people, lacking mental capacity to make decisions about their care, objected to their current care arrangements, for example they may have been placed out of area or in a care home setting with people from a different age group or with different needs to them. The Council was frequently expected to explain to the Court what steps they were taking to improve local provision given its Care Act duty to promote a diverse market of care providers in an area and to provide choice to clients in need of care.

 

48.9    The Board then moved to the vote agreeing the recommendations set out in the report.

 

48.10  RESOLVED – That the Board agree:

 

(i) Option C: Supported Living Service for people with Physical Disabilities and Acquired Brain Injury is taken forward as the preferred option;

 

(ii) that a final decision about the model and whether to provide a Council run or outsourced service is made at the June Health and Wellbeing Board meeting once further detailed work has taken place to identify the viability and model for each option;

 

(iii) To consider Options A & B: Services for people with Mental Health needs within the Commissioning Strategy; and

 

(iv) To put in placed a Guardian Scheme at the property.

Supporting documents:

 


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